Long before a charge reaches a defense lawyer, somebody in a prosecutor’s office has read the file and decided what it’s worth. Two of our attorneys used to be the person doing that reading — one as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, one as a public defender across the hall. Decker Law defends misdemeanors and felonies in the Virginia Beach courts, from two offices in the city. Call 757-622-3317 — free and confidential, any hour.
TWO OF OUR ATTORNEYS ONCE SAT ON THE OTHER SIDE
George Neskis served four years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. Cole Roberts started out as a public defender. Between the two of them they have seen a case charged, screened and worked up long before it ever landed on a defense desk.
That is a practical advantage, not a relational one. It amounts to knowing which files the Commonwealth is privately uneasy about, what a reduction generally takes in this court, how the General District morning actually proceeds on the day you have been told to attend, and how much of that day you will spend sitting.
We take misdemeanors and felonies through the Virginia Beach General District Court, the Circuit Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — from the bond hearing to a jury’s verdict. Cole has put charges from assault and battery through to murder in front of juries, and that alters the calculation on a file. A prosecutor anticipating a trial treats a case differently from one anticipating a plea.
WHAT THAT IS WORTH TO YOU
Four years on the other side
Assessing which cases the Commonwealth could carry. That judgment does not leave when you change chairs.
A former public defender
Cole Roberts learned this work carrying the heaviest caseload in the building. Nobody sees more of a docket than a public defender does.
A record of going to trial
Prosecutors keep track of which attorneys actually try cases. What gets offered tends to reflect it.
WHAT FOLLOWS AN ARREST IN VIRGINIA BEACH
Most people who contact us have never done this before and have no clear picture of what comes next. In short: an arrest here usually means a magistrate’s bond decision, then an arraignment in the General District Court, and after that either a trial date in that court or — where the charge is a felony — a preliminary hearing to determine whether the matter is certified to a grand jury and passed up to the Circuit Court.
In front of every one of those stages sits a period in which something useful can be done, and every one of those periods closes. Filing the discovery request. Arriving with a bond argument prepared rather than assembled at the podium. Reaching a witness while the recollection is still reliable. The one thing that cannot be done is recovering the time afterwards.
Which is the entire reason to call before the first hearing rather than after it. Nobody at this firm will tell you what you would like to hear about a charge — but on that first call you will be told the realistic range of outcomes, and what has to be done this week to protect the better end of it.
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
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Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
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Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
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Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
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Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
offices in the city, on Haygood Road and in Kempsville
65+
years practicing in Hampton Roads courts
HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE DECKER LAW HAS HELPED
Sam S.
Decker Law Firms reputation is premier in the Hampton Roads region for good reason: They get the job done. I called Decker Law firm completely distraught after a fraudulent DV situation. Attorney Cole Roberts heard my side of the story and told me he can help. We were not satisfied with the deal offered and decided to take it to trial. His cross examination sealed the deal and two fraudulent charges were ultimately dismissed. I highly recommend Attorney Cole Roberts and Decker Law Firm.
Jeffrey Partington took on my case for an accident with an injury. Jeff was easy to work with and had in depth knowledge of civil law. From the very time I spoke with Jeff, I had zero doubt about his abilities. Through relentless pursuit of a fair settlement, Jeff guided me through the entire process, and he was extremely patient as well as customer service oriented. My intuitive nature told me Jeff was a winner, and he proved me to be right. I would recommend Jeff to anyone. Jeff demonstrated his skillset and expertise in the field of law. Thanks Jeff to you, and the rest of the staff at the Decker law firm for everything you did on my behalf.
Martin Thomas Jr and his paralegal were incredible at getting me my settlement for top dollar. I didn’t have to do anything they made it super easy. Highly suggest for anyone’s attorney needs! I will be telling everyone.
I had a denied bond at Virginia Beach Correctional on a holiday week.Cole Roberts worked fast to get me a bond hearing and had a bondsman lined up for me I was out by lunch time the same day and looking forward to him representing me on my case. He’s prompt, caring and respected in the courtroom. THANK YOU Cole Roberts.
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